As you've no doubt heard by now, San Francisco 49ers quarterbackNFL player Colin Kaepernickchose not to stand for the national anthem before a preseason against the Green Bay Packers last week.

The public are divided. The decision sparked a heated public debate, with some arguing that Kaepernick had disrespected his country and its military veterans.

Others maintained that the former NFL standout (who lost his starting position to Blaine Gabbert last season) was exercising a constitutional right and calling attention to the critical matter of police brutality directed at people of color. An unfortunate situation that has been on the increase in recent times.

"I am not going to stand up to show pride in a flag for a country that oppresses black people and people of color," Kaepernick told the press after the game.

"To me, this is bigger than football and it would be selfish on my part to look the other way."

The 28-year-old also added:

"There are bodies in the street and people getting paid leave and getting away with murder.

"When there's significant change and I feel like that flag represents what it's supposed to represent and this country is representing people the way that it's supposed to, I'll stand."

The ballplayer still repeated the action amidst heated criticism. On Thursday, Kaepernick doubled-down on his protest by kneeling during the National Anthem prior to his team's matchup against the San Diego Chargers, thus sending the clear message that he has no intention of backing down from stance.

Of course, from the start of the controversy most sought-after opinion has been that of President Barack Obama, who has remained silent on the issue, finally made his opinion known in a press conference this morning when he was asked about his views on Kaepernick.

The President had this to say:

"I think heh cares about some real legitimate issues that have to be talked about," Obama said, in what a statement of somewhat less-than-full-throated support for Kaepernick's refusal to stand.

"He's exercising his constitutional right to make a statement. I think there's a long history of sports figures doing so."

Although Obama did not show outright support for Kaepernick's actions, many have critically viewed it that way.